Heating apparatus



Oct. 2, 1951 P. GuBsoN HEATING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1947 3 o0 w 4 W M Ml.. f Y 4 7 0 v Z 4/ f M \f 65, H

5 5 4 Z lull. .n l l 0 rlw IIWIIIUIW=I1117 V lm d M F j 6 u/ j@ Patented ct. 2, 1951 uU Ni Teo rATiii-s PAT-ENT oF-Frei c E HEJ'ING APPRATUS .PhilipGlihsom Chicago,` Il1`. ,'ApplicationlMarh 28, 1947;"Serial No.737,883

This invention Vrelates *to heating apparatus. More particiilarlyl,Il this` invention relates i to heat# ing apparatus which 'may be employed in residences and other buildings for general k1heating purposes and also for heatingwatersoastoprvideasupplyfof hot water as'and when uneeded in a residence or `otheri building.

An object of 1 the present invention iis to; provide `a new and improved heating uapparatus, which is relatively 4small, Acompa-ct,siinpl'e` and inexpensive` in` construction, and which tmay be employedi in residences' and other 'placesorgeneral heating purposes.

Another .object of the invention lis .tofiprovide a new'and improved 'heating apparatus which includes anovelhot water'heatingcoil unitembodied therein for providing a supply f' hot water as and when needed in a residence orother building.

SA lfurther. object of the linventionislto provide in the newheating apparatus a novelldevicefor controllingthe supply ,of water tothe heating element Y which is embodied in .the .new .heating apparatus. l

AOther and further objects of thefpresentiinvention will beapparentlfrom the. followingsie- Scription and .claim and are .illustrated `in the accompanying-drawing Vwliiclu,-.byway of illustration,v showstaipreferred .embodiment of Ithe present inventionand .theprinciplesthereon and what. Inow considerto be the. bestmode inxwhich I .have .contemplated applying -.these '.pri-nciples.` Other `embodiments .of the invention vembodying the sameori equivalent principles f may be `fused and. structural changes I. may be made as vdesired by thosef skilled ..in the --art `without departing from i the present invention and the; purview of the ,appended claim.

inthe-drawings:

V FigflV is-ar central vertical sectional-view, partly in-` elevation, through the" newheatingfapparatus. showing the :arrangement of the various; parts embodied therein;A and Figa 2is anaenlarged iragmentarynsectional detailviewfof a iloat valve unit Awhichisembodied inthe :new heating apparatus for controlling the supply of fwaterx to: the heating .unit which'. iseeme bodied in thei'new' heating.a-pparatus.`

=A .preferred and typical f embodimentl of "fthe present invention is i illustrated the idrawing. whereiniit..isagenerally indicatediat Il),A and: comprises: aff-Welded and general'lyoylindricalosteel tank or boiler II which includes'aivverticailysex# tenidiiig "siderwll I 2 "bottom-wall lh-and` top wal1rI4, the top wall I4 vbeing preferably. arched .ortcurved convexlyupwardly, asshownIin Fig. 1 ofthe drawing.

Aniupwardly arched. steel partition I5` extends acrossrthe; interior ofthe boiler I. I, below the midportion'thereof,.andois secured aroundits marginaledge to the side wall I2` thereof inv-any suitablemanner, as by welding. This partition J|55 dividesthe interiorof the=tank `or.boiler-II into a lower compartment 'I6, which -is defined by the side `wall I2,.bottom wall I3,-and partition I5, and an upper compartment-H Vwhich isidee tlnedby the side wall l2,\top wall MaI-1d pai'- tition ll5- as will-'be' explainedA morefully hereinafter, tiieupper compartment I1 of the tankfoi boiler His divided into an upper lstearnzone 44 and la lower "WaterI zone 46, and the normal line of'separation betweenthese'-twoxzones 44 and 46 is indcatediby the-dotted linefll in Fig.1.

A water intake line in the form of apipe35, which -may be connected to a municipal'water system or `other suitablesource of water, opens into'the lower areaof the upper compartment I1 and is provided with a Vmanually voperable control valvef 36 which is disposedadjacent-the side wally I2 ,of the tankor boiler II. A water returnlinerin vthe form of `apipe Iilleads into the. upper compartment' I '1. of the tank vor boiler Y IllandA this Waterreturnpipe .I.8\has a portion ISwhichrextends `downwardly into the `upper compartment I'I,.acljacent the side lwall-I2,an-d terI-ninatesr ina horizontally extending lower end portion. YA-steam outlet linein theater-mofa pipe f2 I vopens out of thel topwall |41 ofz the `tank or` boiler i I andmay. be connectedto steam-radiators arranged in a residence or like building with which Ythe newzheating apparatuslisiused.

A @safety f release valve .'22, a steam `pressure gauge 23, and arheostatssteam pressure control unit;24,.=.all :ofewl-iich` may' beA of any suitableland conventional designare arranged upon the top wall i'4offth'e`tanlc or .boiler II.

.TA steam-.generatingiunitis arranged fin the lower compartments I-:of the rtank ori boiler i Il. This stea'mfsgenerating `unit;l comprises. a `welded and geneially` cylindrical steel ywater jacket; generally-f-indicated-at 26;@Which includesfaside wall 21, iaibottomfwalllZB, and a-convexly upwardly arched topwall 29. `ALsuitable heatingrunit 30 in thefform of a lplure'tlityJ of aperturedrgas burner'c'ilsi' 3 Ilisfarranged irl-the lower compartment I6, immediately below the bottom `wall of Ytheowater acketj 2li,y anfdeach of' these aperturedlgasiburner coilslSI has -aliuelsupply *li-ne in the form of a gas inlet pipe 32 attached thereto. These gas inlet pipes 32 extend through a suitable openingor hand hole 33 which is provided therefor in the side wall I2 of the tank or boiler II. A fume duct 34 opens out of the lower area of the lower compartment I6 and extends upwardly along the side wall I2 of the boiler I to a point above the top wall I4 thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to allow the fumes formed by the combustion of the gas in the coils 3| to escape to the atmosphere.

A vertically extending pipe 31 is arranged centrally within the tank or boiler II. This pipe 31 is preferably made of a main and upper secjacket 26 and thence downwardly centrally-1 through the water jacket 26. The lower section 38 ofthe pipe 31 rests upon the bottom wall 28 of the water jacket 26. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the lower section 38 of the pipe 31, which is disposed within the water jacket`26, is provided with a multiplicity of openings or apertures 39, for a reason which will be explained hereinafter.

As is also shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the upper section of the pipe 31 extends upwardly through an opening 4| which is arranged centrally in the arched partition I and thence upwardly into the upper compartment I1 of the boiler I I, its upper end portion 43 opening into the steam zone 44 of the upper compartment I1. As pointed out hereinbefore, the steam zone 44 is that portion of the upper compartment I1 which is disposed above the normal water line 45 in the upper compartment I1 andrwhich normal Water line 45 divides the upper compartment I1 into the Vupper steam zone 44 and the lower water zone 46 (Fig. 1).

A cylindrical metal sleeve or jacket 42 surrounds the major portion of the upper section of the pipe 31 which is disposed in the upper compartment I1 of the boiler II and a water-conducting and water-heating coil 41 surrounds and encircles the sleeve or jacket 42 on the outer side thereof. The lowermost convolution of the water-conducting and water-heating coil 41 is connected to a water inlet in the form of a pipe 48 which may be connected to a municipal water system, or other source of water, and the uppermost convolution of the water-conducting and water-heating coil 41 is connected to a hot water outlet pipe 49 which, in turn, may be connected to suitable faucets or other conveniences in the residence or the like in which the new heating apparatus IIJ is installed. Y

The new heating apparatus I6 includes a float valve control unit which is generally indicated-at 50, and which is disposed outwardly of the lower compartment I6 of the tank or boiler I I, adjacent the side wall I2 thereof. This float valve control unit 5I] includes a substantially cylindrical casing 5I which includes a vertically extending side wall 52, a bottom wall 53, and a topY wall 54. The lower area of the interior of the oat valve casing 5I is connected, by means of a pipe 55, to the lower area ofthe water jacket 26. of the pipe is attached to the bottom wall 53 of the casing 5I and the other end of the pipe 55 isV attached to the side wall 21 of the water jacket 26 immediately above the bottom wall 28 thereof.

The oat valve control unit 50 vincludes a movable float valve unit 56 which is movably mountf Thus one end ed in the float valve housing or casing 5|. This iioat valve unit 56 includes a valve stem 51 which has a movable valve element 58 mounted thereon at the top thereof and the float valve unit 56 also includes a buoyant member or float 59 which is mounted upon the. lower end portion of the valve stem 51 (Fig. 1). The movable valve element 58 of the fioat valve control unit 50 is adapted to seat against a relatively stationary valve element in the form of a valve seat 6U and the upper end portion 10 of the valve stem 51, which is disposed above the movable valve element 58 mounted thereon, projects through and works in a centrally arranged opening 1I which is formed in the stationary valve seat member 6I (Fig. 2).

The stationary valve element or valve seat 60 is formed as an integral part of an externally threaded tubular member 6I which is threaded into the enlarged internally threaded lower end portion 63 of a pipe 64. This pipe 64 hasan upper end portion which is connected, as at 66 to the lower area of the steam zone 44 of the upper compartment I1 of the tank or boiler II and the pipe 64 is also connected between its ends, as at 65, to Athe lower area of the water zone 46 of the upper compartment I1 of the boiler II.

A steam pressure equalizer pipe 61, which isy relatively smaller in diameter than the pipe 64, has an'upper end portion'which opens, into the lowerY area ^of the steam zone 44 of the upper compartment I1 of the tank or boiler II, and the Vlower end portion of this pipe 61 opens into the casing or housing 5I of the float Valve con` trol unit 50 by way of an opening 12 whichis formed in the top wall 54 of the casing or nousing 5I of the float valve control unit 50, as shown in Fig. 2. An' air inlet in the form' ofv a hand hole 13 is provided in the lower end portion of the side wall I2 of the boiler I I, as shown in Fig. 1, to afford a supply of air to the gas burner coils 3| as well as for the purpose of'enabling manual access to be had to the lower area I6 of the tank or boiler II for the purpose of lighting the gas burner unit 30.

In-the use and operation of the new heating apparatus the same may be installed in the basement of a residence or like building and the various necessary pipe connections made as here-V inbefore described. The manually operable con-v trol valve 36 may then be opened to admit water into the lower water zone 46 of the upper compartment I1 of the tank or boiler II until the level of lwater therein reaches approximately the'normal -water -level 45. Y -During this operation ofv lling the lower water zone 46'in the upper compartment I1 of the tankwor boiler II water will flow, by gravity, by way of thebranch pipe and the pipe 64-63 through `the-'central openingv 1I the `valve seat 6I, past the movable valve-element 58,7through the externally threaded tubular member 6I in whichthe valve seatr6| is formed and into the housing 5I4of the float valve control unit 50, and vthence by way ofthe pipe 55 into the lower area of the water jacket 26.v This Vflow of water by gravity will continue. Vuntil'the water in `Ythe water jacket.. 26 reaches approximately the level indicated by the dotted line 14, at which time'the water in the housing 5I of thev oat valvecontrol unit 52 will ont swmltgthe fuel supply lines '32 may -thenbe opened to admit gas to the apertured gas burner coils 3-| of the heating unit 35, and the gas emerging `from the latter may be lighted by means of a match manually inserted through the combination air inlet opening and hand hole 13 in the lower portion of the sidetiiall -|2ofthe -tankldrboiler l l V(alig. l) The llame and heat thusdeieloped in the gas heating coil unit 30 Vwill be directed against the bottom wall 28 of the water jacket 26 and will convert the watertherein intclfsteam. The steam thus generated in the water jaeket26 of the steam generating unit will pass into the lower section 38ofthe pipe 31, byway of ltheopenings-or apertures 39 therein, and thence up the pipe 31 into the steam zone 44 of the upper compartment l1 of the tankor boiler l l `froin which the steam will pass by way ofthe outlet linel rpipe 2| to steam radiators 'the "residence or like building in which the new heating apparatus l IJ is arranged. The water of condensation will return by way of the return line ll-I-Zil into the lower water zone 46 of the upper compartment I1 of the boiler ll The normal water level 14 in the water jacket 25 of the steam generating unit 25 is automatically controlled and maintained by the float valve control unit s. Thus it will be seen that when the common water level 14-15 in the water jacket and in the housing 5l of the iloat Valve control unit 5i), respectively, reaches the desired normal level, the oat 59 will rise and move the movable valve element 58 into seating engagement with the valve seat 63 and thus prevent further flow of water from the lower water Zone 4B of the upper compartment I1 of the tank or boiler Il through the water supply line 65--64-63-1l-6I-5I-55 to the lower area of the water jacket 26 of the steam generating unit. p

It will be noted that the pressure of steam accumulating in the upper area of the water jacket 2B, if not counteracted, would have a tendency to act through the water in the steam jacket 26, pipe 55, and iloat valve housing 5l to raise the float 59 and thus maintain the movable valve element 5S in constant engagement with the stationary valve element or seat 60. However, any such tendency of the steam pres# sure in the water jacket 26 to create a locking action upon the float valve unit 56 is offset by the fact that the pipe 64 is connected at 66 into the lower area of the steam zone 44 of the upper compartment l1 of the tank or boiler Il so that steam under substantially the same pressure as the steam in the water jacket 26 is supplied by the line 66-E4 631|-6I into the interior of the float valve housing 5I above the float 59 so that the steam pressure on both sides of the oat 59 is thus equalized and the iloat 59 is free to respond only to variations in the common level 14--15 in the water jacket 26 and float valve housing 5|.

It will further be noted that any tendency of the steam flowing into the float valve housing 5I by way of the line 66-64--63-1l-BI to build up a steam pressure above the movable valve element 58 sucient to maintain the movable valve element 58 in open position is offset by the action of the steam entering the upper area of the float valve housing 5I, below the movable valve element 5S, by way of the relatively small diameter steam pressure equalizer pipe 61.

Cold water entering the water-conducting and water-heating coil 41, by way of the inlet pipe 48, is heated by the combined action of the hot water in the water zone 46, by the steam passing 6 through the pipe 43,` and 'by the steam in the steam `zone 44 of the uppercompartment I1 #of the boiler ll. The water thus heated in the coil 41 flows/by way of the outlet pipe 49, to suitable faucets or other conveniences in a `residence or the like in which the new heating apparatus Ill may be employed. l

It will be noted that the sleeve orjacket 42, which surrounds the steampipe 43, prevents the cold water ilowing into the waterzone 451 by Way of the cold water inlet pipe 35 from coming into direct contact with the hot steam pipe 43 `but still allows heat from the hot steam pipe 43 to pass through the air space between the steam pipe 43 and the jacket 42, through the jacket 42, and into the hot water-conducting andhot wateriheating coils 41.

The gases of combustion from the gas heating unit 35 pass up the fumeduct 34 from which they may be allowed to escape to the atmosphere.

If desired, an oil burner unit or an electrical heating unit may be substituted for the gas burner heating unit 3@ shown in the drawing.

The partition I5 is preferably arched upwardly, as shown, since this form of construction enhances the resistance of the partition to the downward bending forces exerted thereon by the water in the water Zone 46 and the pressure of the steam in the steam zone 44 applied upon the water in the Water zone 46.

The construction and operation of the safety release valve 22, the steam gauge 23, and the rheostat pressure control unit 24 are conventional and hence require no further explanation.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides a new and improved heating apparatus having the novel features of construction and the desirable advantages and characteristics hereinbefore mentioned and others which are inherent in the invention.

It will also be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention thus accomplishes its intended objects, including those which have been pointed out hereinbefore, and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

A heating apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical steel boiler including a vertically eX- tending side wall and generally horizontally extending top and bottom walls and a generally horizontally extending transverse partition extending across the interior of the said boiler between the said top and bottom walls thereof and dividing the interior of the said boiler into an upper compartmentl defined by the said side wall and the said top wall and the said transverse partition and including an upper steam zone and a lower water zone, and a lower compartment defined by the said side wall and the said bottom Wall and the said transverse partition, said boiler having a valve-controlled cold water inlet into the said lower water zone of the said upper compartment, and having a steam outlet from the said upper steam zone of the said upper compartment, a steam-generating water jacket arranged in the said lower compartmentl of the said boiler below the said transverse partition, a heating unit below the said water jacket for heating Water therein and converting the same into steam, a vertically extending steam-conducting pipe arranged centrally in the said boiler and including an open lower end portion extending downwardly through the said water jacket centrally thereof Aforthe reception of steam from the said water jacket, the said steam-conducting pipe including an upper portion extending upwardly through the `said transverse partition and through the said .Water ,zone and opening at its upper end into the said steam Zone of the said upper compartment, a watersupply line for supplying water from the 'saidlower water zone of the said upper compart- 'ment of the said boiler into the lower area of the said water jacket, an automatically operated float VvValve unit arranged in the said water supply line between the said water Zone and the said water .jacket for automatically maintaining the water ,levelA in the said water` jacket substantially constant, V,and nmeans for equalizing the effective steam pressure and the effective water pressure Aon' the said valve unit; from the said upper compartment and the said water jacket, respectively.

s. 4 PHILIP GUBSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS ANumber Name Date I55,237 Campbell June 5, 1866 Y 74,269V Anderson Feb. 11, 1868 Y 153,019 p Bogart Dec. 22, 1874 303,910 Blankenbaker et al. Aug. 19, 18-84 783,306 Pfingst Feb. 21, 1905 1,070,175 Ponninghaus Aug. 12, 1,913 1,959,933 Simsohn May 22, 1934 2,206,513 Rennhack July 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,114 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1912 302,280 Italy Oct. 24, 1932 483,759 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1938 

